Andy Orban
@andyorban.bsky.social
Architect, husband & dad, lives in Charlottesville. Bikes for fun and for transport.
Pinned
Andy Orban
@andyorban.bsky.social
· Aug 8
I kinda like these intro posts, here goes mine. Basic bio: solo architect, biking & running enthusiast, 3 kids in public schools, married to the awesomest wife. November 2016 was radicalizing for me and got me involved in activism. That morphed over the years to a focus on effecting local politics.
I need to update my post now that my oldest is headed off to college this fall, I'll have only 2 of my kids in public schools. The rest still tracks, my wife is awesome as ever and local politics continues to be the place where one can effect the most tangible changes.
Days and days of talking about Nuzzi? this timeline is getting kinda boring, filled with allusions to her writing even when I have the name muted. Can we move on?
November 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Days and days of talking about Nuzzi? this timeline is getting kinda boring, filled with allusions to her writing even when I have the name muted. Can we move on?
This guy, Achilles, sounds like a real badass, I'm naming my personal armor company after this fierce fighter
November 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This guy, Achilles, sounds like a real badass, I'm naming my personal armor company after this fierce fighter
"clubby world" you say? I say birds of a feather
November 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
"clubby world" you say? I say birds of a feather
Reposted by Andy Orban
the white house is trying to destabilize the ACA markets by wrecking the risk pools. the end result is vulnerable people die
November 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
the white house is trying to destabilize the ACA markets by wrecking the risk pools. the end result is vulnerable people die
Reposted by Andy Orban
Seen in the wild…#TDOR this Thursday, November 20. Join us downtown at 6 PM.
November 16, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Seen in the wild…#TDOR this Thursday, November 20. Join us downtown at 6 PM.
Reposted by Andy Orban
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Reposted by Andy Orban
Part 10 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
Guillotine Earrings From France’s Reign of Terror
Guillotine Earrings From France’s Reign of Terror
November 13, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Part 10 of 200 in historically interesting things to inspire your ttrpg
Guillotine Earrings From France’s Reign of Terror
Guillotine Earrings From France’s Reign of Terror
Reposted by Andy Orban
This has been a banner week for bond—5 new requests have come in since Monday totaling over $20K. Our funds are dwindling. You can help! Attend next week’s film screening (see below) or make a direct contribution: secure.actblue.com/donate/ccfre...
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This has been a banner week for bond—5 new requests have come in since Monday totaling over $20K. Our funds are dwindling. You can help! Attend next week’s film screening (see below) or make a direct contribution: secure.actblue.com/donate/ccfre...
Reposted by Andy Orban
Good morning from the brand new multimodal bridge over 29 🙌🏻
November 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Good morning from the brand new multimodal bridge over 29 🙌🏻
Reposted by Andy Orban
You’d love it. He explains how Colorado Springs became a hub for the Religooud Right— basically the town had excess office space after a downturn and an official tasked with finding new businesses recruited megachurches etc
November 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
You’d love it. He explains how Colorado Springs became a hub for the Religooud Right— basically the town had excess office space after a downturn and an official tasked with finding new businesses recruited megachurches etc
Reposted by Andy Orban
1/ We might be nearing the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. But even if Congress extends #ACAsubsidies, the debate in Washington is way too small. The real issue isn’t actually the subsidies, it’s how completely insane our health care system has become. 🧵
November 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
1/ We might be nearing the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. But even if Congress extends #ACAsubsidies, the debate in Washington is way too small. The real issue isn’t actually the subsidies, it’s how completely insane our health care system has become. 🧵
Lol, ICE is freezing and needs to go warm up
ICE/BP’s next targets are reportedly Charlotte and New Orleans.
Two things:
1) If they had the capacity to hit many cities at once, rather than pick on one or two at a time, they would.
2) Moving south seems to confirm speculation that they’re leaving Chicago because it got cold.
Two things:
1) If they had the capacity to hit many cities at once, rather than pick on one or two at a time, they would.
2) Moving south seems to confirm speculation that they’re leaving Chicago because it got cold.
Trump Administration Plans to Send Border Patrol to Charlotte and New Orleans
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Lol, ICE is freezing and needs to go warm up
Omg
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Omg
How do you argue with an arsonist? (Thinking about the shutdown resolution)
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
How do you argue with an arsonist? (Thinking about the shutdown resolution)
Now that the rubber is meeting the road, I am finding out there's a huge amount of misconception happening regarding who's losing the subsidies and who's not. Apparently this only applies to the post-Covid expansion of subsidies and not people who already qualified previously, like me.
It will be painful if the subsidies go away (like my premiums would go up ten-fold!) but the cost of helping the GOP politically is existential and the Dems seem too quick to capitulate. Fight dammit!
I care about health care subsidies and I want Dems to fix it as soon as they destroy the GOP, not lend them a helping hand!
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Now that the rubber is meeting the road, I am finding out there's a huge amount of misconception happening regarding who's losing the subsidies and who's not. Apparently this only applies to the post-Covid expansion of subsidies and not people who already qualified previously, like me.
What is wrong with you!? By what mechanism do you intend to have the Republican House vote on this?? A "promise" 🙄🙄🙄
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 AM
What is wrong with you!? By what mechanism do you intend to have the Republican House vote on this?? A "promise" 🙄🙄🙄
Reposted by Andy Orban
Reposted by Andy Orban
URGENT: Call Mark Warner - 202-224-2023 and Tim Kaine - (202) 224-4024 and tell them NOT to cave to the GOP on the shutdown without a minimum one year extension on the ACA subsidies!
I'm hearing the same thing. Dems are nearing a surrender. I'm shocked. Largest protest in history + best election night in years + polling showing we're kicking their ass in public opinion. And now Dems may cave.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
URGENT: Call Mark Warner - 202-224-2023 and Tim Kaine - (202) 224-4024 and tell them NOT to cave to the GOP on the shutdown without a minimum one year extension on the ACA subsidies!
Reposted by Andy Orban
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
I'm enjoying the last few splashes of fall color
November 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I'm enjoying the last few splashes of fall color
Bad case of "gold" pox
November 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Bad case of "gold" pox
Reposted by Andy Orban
A friend recently texted me the same thing. “Do you really not use ChatGPT?!” It was a sign of where we are culturally on this. People are compelled to use it but also starting to question the normalcy?
Recently met someone who was very surprised to hear I didn’t use ChatGPT or any LLM.
I said my job depended on doing distinctive work. That was my selling point. If I started to sound like ChatGPT and turn out what it did, then how on earth could I justify doing it? What would that make me?
I said my job depended on doing distinctive work. That was my selling point. If I started to sound like ChatGPT and turn out what it did, then how on earth could I justify doing it? What would that make me?
November 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
A friend recently texted me the same thing. “Do you really not use ChatGPT?!” It was a sign of where we are culturally on this. People are compelled to use it but also starting to question the normalcy?
Reposted by Andy Orban
I've been thinking abt local economic conditions today. Namely, abt the severe shortage of affordable housing, the high costs of transportation by car, & environment costs of hopscotch sprawl into surrounding counties requiring people to drive past empty land to other counties to get home from work
November 6, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I've been thinking abt local economic conditions today. Namely, abt the severe shortage of affordable housing, the high costs of transportation by car, & environment costs of hopscotch sprawl into surrounding counties requiring people to drive past empty land to other counties to get home from work
Reposted by Andy Orban
Ellis: The use of force during the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz "shocks the conscience."
November 6, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Ellis: The use of force during the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz "shocks the conscience."